Richard S. Drake so proud to call you my friend. You and others like Timothy Lane Smith give me great hope for the next generation of southern writers and journalists. Not all the same: Poor’s “luxuries anything but Richard S. Drake - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (November 1, 2013) Close to my home is a furniture and clothes resale store which might have come straight from the imagination of Dante Alighieri. I mention this store briefly because it has become popular in some quarters to point to various items which a family may have, and claim that no, they are not “poor” in the classical sense - meaning, I suppose, that they aren’t sitting on the street begging or employing their entire families in the horrible occupation of being mudlarks. As someone who has not only devoted much of his life to writing about such issues, but also spent two brief periods collecting food stamps, I may have a little more firsthand knowledge about poverty than those who believe that owning microwaves or cell phones can make people somehow not quite poor enough to be taken seriously. Beginning with an infamous Heritage Foundation report (“Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an XBox: What is Poverty in the United States Today?”) many is the headline repeating this story. And many are the letters to the editor or posts on Facebook from folks who can’t seem to see beyond the headlines. According to recent survey figures, Americans who live in poverty also seem to have washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, televisions, DVD players, cell phones (supposedly along with landlines) coffee makers and computers. There seems to be an almost ad hoc assumption that if these folk are not living in showcase homes, the above items at least must certainly be top of the line. Most folks I know have at least some of the above. Many, of course, rent, and should they suddenly find themselves in dire straits, they would no doubt discover that their landlords would not take it kindly if they were to begin selling appliances from the house, including the dishwashers and air conditioning units. But even for those who don’t rent, the truth is that most of the above were probably owned well before a family or individual found themselves in the shallow end of the financial pool, and the resale value for such is pretty low - even if they should find themselves so desperate they must strip their homes of what most of what the majority of us would consider to be necessary for getting by in life. Such as the cell phones for getting in touch with potential employers, refrigerators or the stoves and microwaves needed for preparing food so that our families can eat. But even if people who are financially struggling have all of these things, there is still some underlying notion that the appliances in the homes in question are chrome, polished and ready for that showcase home. We are presented with the image of folks buying the latest in technological advances, as the cool breezes from their air conditioners gently waft over them. The grim truth of the matter is often far different from the popular perception. Earlier I mentioned a resale store which I visit once a month to check out their book racks. This store often offers ripped and torn furniture at rock bottom prices, furniture with chunks missing, or dressers with missing drawers. Invariably, there will be a “Sold” sign on a piece sitting outside the store, a couch with a large rip in the cushions, or stained chairs. Televisions, radios, and DVD players are sold “as is,” with no chance for a refund. Similar stores will sell you stoves, refrigerators, freezers and telephones for your landline. And air conditioners, should you so desire. Many times they are rickety old affairs, which may blow their business out loudly over a single room. I have personally never bought anything more than a book from one of these stores, but I have known many who bought what they needed from them on a regular basis. The families for whom a trip to Walmart would be like an excursion to Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s for many of the rest of us. Clothes, coats and shoes that others have cast off, kitchen appliances which may last a few months, and then you keep them going as best you can, on a wing and a prayer. When I hear someone expressing harsh thoughts about the possessions of the poor, I often wish I had the ability to appear to them as one of the Ghosts of Christmas, from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and take them on a short guided tour of the reality which all-too-many face in this country. Because in America, all men and women may be equal, but you really can’t say the same for cell phones, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves or air conditioners. Fayetteville writer Richard S. Drake has been writing about working class and social justice issues for much of his life.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 18:30:05 +0000
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